Wife of detained Nigerian president is killed

On 4 June 1996, Kudirat Abiola the wife of Moshood Abiola, the detained Nigerian President, was gunned down at close range by three unknown men while she was travelling in a car. Abiola’s driver died with her, but her personal assistant Michael Adeshina managed to escape. He was taken to police station in the hope that he would be able to help in the investigation.  In May 1996,  she was detained on a charge of false publication as she was involved in a campaign to secure the release of her husband who was in detention. Although Abiola was active in politics, Glyn Davies, the spokesperson of the State Department, stated that the murder was not politically motivated.